Collapsible ironing table



NOV. 2, 1937. c, FQRNEY 2,097,724

COLLAPS IBLE IRONING TABLE Filed Dec. 51, 19:54 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

E. al A Fnrney ORNEYS.

Nov. 2, 1937. c, FORNEY 2,097,724

COLLAPS IBLE IRONING TABLE Fi led Dec. 51, 1934 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ljal A FDITIEH ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 2, 1937 COLLAPSIBLE IRONING TABLE Cal A Forney, Goshen, Ind. Application December 31, 1934, Serial No. 759,989

Claims.

This invention relates to ironing tables of the collapsibleleg or support class.

The primary objector the invention is to pro- -vide an improved collapsible ironing table of the 5 character generally set forth in my U. S. Patents No; 1,653,355; No. 1,762,924; No. 1,836,913 and -No. 1,910,006, incorporating improvements therer 1 Another object is to provide an improved col- 1 lapsible ironing table so constructed that the legs --or supports thereof will spread easily and at the -same time.

Yet another object is to provide a readily 001v lapsible ironing table having the characteristics set out above and which will not collapse in such a manner as to injure the operator or damage clothing and the like.

Another ob-jectis .toprovide an ironing table with the characteristics set forth .which will provide positive bracing for the legs.

Other objects'and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificationand in which drawings:-

Figure 1 is a=sideelevationof the improved ironing'table in a partly set up position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same in a finally setup position.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the improved ironing table as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end elevation'of the table as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a. bottom plan view of the table wholly collapsed.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a perspective View of a novel link member forming an'important part of the construction of the improved ironing table.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A designates generally the improved ironingtable, which may include a conventional ironing board proper B, legs or Another object is to provide a construction for supports C and D, longitudinal braces E and G Y and lateral braces F The improved ironing table A is constructed much along the lines of the ironing table disclosed in my U S. PatentNo. 1,910,006, but with a number of important changes in the construc- The board portion tion as therein disclosed.

proper B is of conventional construction and preferably comprises an" elongate member having a substantially flat upper surface [6 and a substantially ilat under surface ll.

As for the-legs C and D, these are substantially similar to thosediscl 1,836,913 and No. 1,910,006.

osed in my U. S. Patents No. The rear legs C are loosely-pivoted to the under surface ll of the board B and adjacent one end thereof; preferably '12, fully described by means of an inverted U-shaped metal bracket in y my U. Si Patent No.

1,910,006; while the front leg D is also pivoted to the under side. on

substantially the longitudinal medial line'of theboard B and in a position which: may-'be'closer to the bracket i2 than is i shown in the last named patent.

A suitable braeketifll is provided for this purpose which bracket :may have a pair of spaced apart depending ears 2| provided with axially aligning pivot pin22 for pivoting an end of theleg D thereto, thebrace being suitably i secured toboard B.

The longitudinal b a pair of elongate me the under side ll of the racesE preferably comprise mbers 25 and 26 respectively pivotally connected at one end, as at 21, to the legs C, intermediate the ends of the legs. It is preferred to employ, as a pivoting means, the

type of uclip. described in my U. S. Patent No.

1,910,006. The opposite ends of the members 25 and 26'are connected to the under side H of the board B thru preferably U"-shaped link'28 which.

theiinstrumentality of a may be of wire. The

bight portion of the link 28 is pivotally connected at 29 to the board B and preferably on substantiallyits longitudinal medial line and forwardly of the pivoted connection 22 of the leg D. The

- arms of the link 28 are pivotally connected to the extremities of the members 25 and 26 by a pivot pin 30extending thru each arm of: the link and 1 thru the ends of the members 25 and 26 which are held slightly .spaced'apart as by a tubular spacer 3! carriedby the pivot pin. The length of the a link 28 and of the members 25 and 26 is such that when the legs C are Figures 2 and 4, the 1 link 28 and members fully outspread as shown in pivotal connection -30 of the 25 and 26 will be past dead center and the ends of the members 25 and 26 will abut the under side of the board B. It has been found that a very rigid bracing of the legs C, insofar as their collapsing longitudinally of the board B is concerned, is provided by this arrangement. On the other hand, a pull on the members 25 and 26 away from the under side it of the board B will quickly release this bracing action on the legs C.

Now as to the lateral braces F, these preferably comprise a pair of cross diagonal braces 50 and 5|, each having an upper, relatively shorter por tion 52 and a lower longer portion 53 pivoted, as at 54, at an end thereof, The opposite ends of the shorter portion 52 are pivotally connected as at 55 to opposite legs C adjacent their upper ends and the longer portions 53 pivotally connected as at 56 to opposite legs C, preferably below the pivotal connections 21 of the members 25 and 26 to the legs C, as shown in Figure 4.

A novel link member 5'! is provided, preferably comprising a single length of heavy resilient wire bent to form substantially a V with the juncture 58 of the arms of the V pivotally connected as at 58 to the under side ll of the board 13. This pivotal connection 58 is preferably on the longitudinal medial line of the board B and spaced inwardly of the edge of the board as well as spaced from the bracket l2. The ends of the arms of the V-shaped link member 54 are preferably hooked as at 59 and inserted into suitable eyes or apertures in the shorter portion 52 of the braces F. These eyes are intermediate the ends of the shorter portions and preferably closer to the pivotal connection 55. This arrangement of hooks 59 and eyes in the shorter portions of the braces affords a pivotal connection between the braces 50 and 5| and the link member 51. The relationship of the portions heretofore described is well shown particularly in Figures 4 and 6.

The longitudinal brace G is substantially similar to that described as K in my U. S. Patent No. 1,910,006 and has the same functions as set out therein. The pivotal connection of the brace members 60 and 6! with the leg D may be, in the present construction of the improved ironing table, a notch in the leg D accommodating the brace members 60 and 6! and covered by a rivet head 62 or the like. The brace members 60 and BI are, of course, preferably of resilient wire and converge from the legs to a point adjacent the free end of the leg D.

When in the collapsed position shown in Figure 5, the arms of the V-shaped link member 51 extend over the bracket 12 and there is an obtuse angular relation between the shorter por-.

tion 52 and longer portion 53 of the lateral braces F. All portions of the supporting means are within the plane of the sides and ends of the board B except the extremity of the leg D, and a very fiat and compact arrangement of collapsed parts is provided.

Upon extending the legs, it will be found that the legs C spread apart laterally at once and at the same time and the portions 52 and 53 of the braces F gradually straighten out while the arms of the link member spread apart. When the legs C have assumed the position shown in Figure 1, pressure exerted upon the members and 26 in a direction towards the under side I l of the board B will cause the pivotal connection to move past dead center and force the extremities of the members 25 and 26 in contact with the under side I I of the board, as shown in Figure 2, and brace the legs C against collapsing longitudinally of the ironing table A. These movements will cause a tension upon the longitudinal wire members Bil and $1 and very slightly how the leg D, while the brace members 60 and 61 will also be slightly flexed as shown in Figure 3 by coming into contact with the members 25 and 26.

Prior to the application of pressure to the brace members 25 and 26 as described, the lateral braces F will be in the position shown in Figure 6, but, as this pressure is applied, the pivot 54 will pass dead center but when the parts assume the set up position of the improved ironing table as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the longitudinal axes of each pair of shorter and longer members 52 and 53 will substantially align as shown in Figure 4 and the improved ironing table is ready for use.

An important cooperation of parts is provided whereby when the pivotal connection 30 between the elon ate members 25 and 26 and the link member 28 of the longitudinal brace E is moved past dead center, the legs of the table are spread simultaneously and tension placed upon the wire brace members 50 and El.

A slight pull upon the members 25 and 26 away from the under side H is all that is necessary in order to effect the collapse of the improved ironing table A.

Frequently, collapsible ironing tables are prone to collapse too quickly, with a snap or jack knife action, and result in injury to the person or damage the clothing. This is not the case with the improved ironing table forming the subject of this invention, for the V-shaped link member 51 serves the additional function of retarding the too rapid collapse of. the legs, since the natural tendency of the arms of the link member 51 is to spread apart.

Various changes may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ironing table construction, an ironing board proper, and means for operatively supporting the board including a pair of legs, means loosely pivoting the legs to the ironing board in such manner that they are movable towards or away from each other transversely of the ironing board, pivoted cross bracing means for connecting said legs together, including a pair of cross braces having pivoted together portions, one portion of each brace being connected to one leg in a pivoted relation and the other portion of each brace being pivotally connected to the other leg, and means whereby said legs will move toward one another when said legs are folded against the ironing board proper, including a substantially V-shaped flexible member, pivoted at its apex to said board back of the first named means and pivoted at the free ends of its arms to like portions of each of said braces.

2. In an ironing table construction, an ironing board proper, and means for operatively supporting the board including a pair of legs, means loosely pivoting the legs to the ironing board in such manner that they are movable towards or away from each other transversely of the ironing board, cross bracing means for connecting said legs together, including a pair of cross braces having pivoted together portions, one portion of each brace being connected to one leg in a pivoted relation and the other portion of each brace being pivotally connected to the other leg, and

means whereby said legs will move toward one another when said legs are folded against the ironing board proper, including a flexible, onepiece wire member, pivoted substantially midway its ends to said board back of the first named means and pivoted at its free ends to like portions of each of said braces.

3. In an ironing table construction, an ironing board proper, and means for operatively supporting the board including a pair of legs, means loosely pivoting the legs to the ironing board in such manner that they are movable towards or away from each other transversely of the ironing board, cross bracing means for connecting said legs together, including a pair of cross braces having pivoted together portions, one portion of each brace being connected to one leg in a pivoted relation and the other portion of each brace being pivotally connected to the other leg, and means whereby said legs will move towards one another when said legs are folded against the ironing board proper, including a substantially V-shaped flexible member comprising a pair of like arms diverging from each other, pivoted at the juncture of said arms to said board back of the first named means and diverging from said pivot, the free ends of said arms being pivoted to like portions of each of said braces, whereby said arms will hold said braces in substantially axial, rigid alignment when said legs are extended in a set up position.

4. In an ironing table construction, an ironing board proper, and means for operatively supporting the board including a pair of legs, means loosely pivoting the legs to the ironing board in such manner that they are movable towards or away from each other transversely of the ironing board, cross bracing means for connecting said legs together, including a pair of cross braces having pivoted together portions, one portion being shorter than the other, one of said portions of each brace being pivotally connected to one leg and the other portion of each brace being pivotally connected to the other leg, with said shorter portion closest adjacent said board, and means whereby said legs will move towards one another when said legs are folded against the ironing board proper, including a substantially V-shaped flexible member comprising a pair of like arms, said V-shaped member being pivoted at its apex to said board back of the first named means and with said arms diverging from said pivot, the free ends of said arms being pivoted to said shorter portions of said braces.

5. In an ironing table construction, an ironing board proper, and means for operatively supporting the board including a pair of legs, means loosely pivoting the legs to the ironing board in such manner that they are movable towards or away from each other transversely of the ironing board, cross bracing means for connecting said legs together, including a pair of cross braces having pivoted together portions, one portion being shorter than the other, one of said portions of each brace being pivotally connected to one leg and the other portion of each brace braces close adjacent the pivotal connection of said shorter portions to said legs. 7

CAL A FORNEY. 

